I STILL REMEMBER how uneasy I felt the first time I read this verse from the Bible: "And his allowance was a continual allowance given him of the king, a daily rate for every day, all the days of his life." II Kings 25:30. It refers to the provision made by the king of Babylon for the king of Judah, who had been released from prison and was now being treated well after thirty-seven years in exile. I know I was supposed to feel encouraged by that verse. It can bring to mind God's constant care for each of us. Yet to me it suggested that although God had every bit of good that I could ever want, He was rationing it out over time in morsels.
I sure am glad that God's provision isn't set up that way. Yes, God's care is constant. But He doesn't dole out a pinch of good here and there. All of God's goodness is with us now. So we can experience it now and be thankful now.
What is the goodness of God? Many people would agree that it's not things or money or status. The only substance God knows is His own, the substance of Spirit. So the goodness of God must be spiritual. Sometimes people consider money to be good. While it may be an indication of how God provides for us, money itself isn't substance or the source of happiness. Joy, stability, love, even health, can't be bought, because they are actually spiritual. They are of God and belong to each of us as God's children. The never-ending goodness of God is entirely spiritual and entirely present.
